US6357599B1 - Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack - Google Patents
Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6357599B1 US6357599B1 US09/633,164 US63316400A US6357599B1 US 6357599 B1 US6357599 B1 US 6357599B1 US 63316400 A US63316400 A US 63316400A US 6357599 B1 US6357599 B1 US 6357599B1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- clamp
- cradle
- stack
- clamps
- machine according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 15
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002393 scratching effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
- B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
- B65G59/105—De-stacking nested articles by means of reciprocating escapement-like mechanisms
- B65G59/106—De-stacking nested articles by means of reciprocating escapement-like mechanisms comprising lifting or gripping means
Definitions
- This invention is concerned with separating members of a stack and is more particularly concerned with facilitating de-stacking of nested containers such as tapered drums.
- Tapered drums which may be fabricated from steel or plastic, for example, are used as containers for a variety of products.
- One of the advantages of the tapered drum is its nesting ability, so that when the drums are empty, they can be stacked up much like paper cups and shipped more economically than non-tapered drums.
- a problem that occurs with tapered drums is that they tend to stick together when nested and stacked, making them difficult to separate.
- Each stack may contain eight to ten nested drums, for example, and is not easily handled manually.
- a stack is pushed over onto a support, which may be comprised of old tires, for example, and then the drums are manually wrestled apart.
- the machine and process of the present invention greatly facilitate the de-stacking of nested tapered drums, minimizing the amount of manual labor required.
- each stack including eight to ten drums, for example, are placed on a wooden shipping pallet.
- the drums in the stack are upside down, so that the wider ends face downwardly, and each drum has an exposed wider end portion.
- a machine of the invention comprises a base supported on wheels and an elongated cradle pivotally supported on an end of the base.
- the cradle is moved between upright and lay-down positions by an actuator.
- First and second clamps mounted on the cradle embrace and grip a first drum:at the bottom of the stack and a second drum in the stack, respectively.
- the cradle is then moved to its lay-down position, carrying the embraced stack with it.
- the first clamp is then moved away from the second clamp, to move the first drum away from the second drum in a de-nesting direction. Then the first clamp releases the first drum to permit the first drum to be separated from the stack.
- first clamp is moved toward the second clamp and the second clamp is released so that the stack can be moved along the cradle to align the second drum with the first clamp and a third drum of the stack with the second clamp.
- the clamps then grip the respective second and third drums, and the first clamp is again moved away from the second clamp to move the second drum away from the third drum.
- the first clamp then releases the second drum so that the second drum can be separated from the stack. This process is continued until all of the drums of the stack have been separated.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a machine of the invention about to approach one of several stacks of nested tapered drums on a pallet;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stack of nested tapered drums embraced by a cradle and clamps of the machine and being lowered to a lay-down position;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the stack in a lay-down position
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views showing stages in a process of de-nesting of a pair of drums in the stack;
- FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, contracted, partly sectional side elevation view showing portions of a machine of the invention.
- FIG. 8 is an end view showing a relationship of a clamp of the machine and a drum of the stack.
- a machine 10 in its preferred form, comprises a base 12 of rectangular frame construction supported on caster wheels 14 at four corners of the bottom of the base and carrying an elongated cradle 16 pivotally supported on the base at one end thereof.
- the cradle comprises a longitudinal structural member 18 in the form of a square cross-section main tube to which are fixed a plurality of arcuate transverse structural members or ribs 20 that support a pair of parallel longitudinal stringers 21 , which, together with tube 18 , are designed to support a stack of nested tapered drums D thereon.
- the drum engaging surfaces of the longitudinal stringers 21 and the main tube 18 are preferably lined with friction-reducing nylon guide strips to facilitate movement of a stack of drums along the cradle.
- a bifurcated arm 22 projecting from an end of the base embraces a tab 24 at one end of the cradle, and a pivot pin is inserted through aligned holes in the arm and the tab.
- the cradle 16 is movable between an upright position shown in FIG. 1 and a lay-down position shown in FIG. 3, by a linear actuator 26 .
- a rest 27 receives the main tube 18 of the cradle when the cradle is in its lay-down position (FIG. 3 ).
- the actuator is a conventional ball screw driven by an electric motor.
- the ball screw has an elongated threaded member 28 that is driven into and out of a cylinder 30 by an electric motor 32 .
- An outer end of the threaded member 30 is pivotally connected to tabs 34 on the tube 18 of the cradle, and an end of the cylinder is pivotally connected to tabs 36 on the base.
- the motor-driven ball screw has the advantage of a constant speed as the load changes during a process in which a stack of drums is lowered to a lay-down position.
- first and second clamps 38 , 40 are supported on the cradle 16 at one thereof (the lower end when the cradle is upright).
- First clamp 38 is mounted on a structural member in the form of a square cross-section tube 44 supported for reciprocation within the main tube 18 of the cradle. See FIG. 7 .
- Second clamp 40 is mounted on the main tube 18 of the cradle and is thus fixed in position on the cradle.
- Tube 44 is driven outwardly and inwardly of tube 18 by a powered machine screw 46 located at the opposite end of the cradle from the clamps.
- a machine screw is used as the power source to initiate separation of the drums because of its constant speed. There are no sudden surges in the process of drum release, as could be experienced if a pneumatic cylinder were used as a power source.
- a nut 48 of the machine screw is fixed to an end of tube 44 , and a feed screw 50 driven by a reversible electric motor 52 mounted on tube 18 drives the nut and the tube 44 back and forth in the tube 18 .
- Nylon wear strips 53 are preferably added to the exterior of the tube 44 at all four sides and at both ends of the tube.
- FIG. 8 shows clamp 38 (which is typical of both clamps) about to grip a tapered drum D.
- Each clamp comprises a pair of pivoted legs 54 .
- Each leg has an arcuate gripping portion 56 at one end of the leg (preferably rubber faced to prevent scratching of drums), a driving portion 58 at the opposite end of the leg, and an intermediate pivotal mounting portion 60 .
- the pivotal mounting portion of each leg is received between a pair of tabs 62 projecting from one of the tubes, and a pivot;pin is inserted through aligned holes in the tabs and the clamp legs.
- one of the tabs for the first clamp extends across the tube 44 on which it is mounted.
- each operator is pneumatically driven and comprises a cylinder 66 and a piston rod 68 that moves in and out of the cylinder.
- Each cylinder has a pair of tabs 70 that receive a driving portion 58 of a leg therebetween, a pivot pin being inserted through aligned holes in the tabs and the leg driving portion.
- Each piston rod is bifurcated to embrace a leg driving portion 58 , a pivot pin being inserted through aligned holes in the bifurcations and the leg driving portion.
- Each clamp is free-floating and self-centering.
- the pneumatic cylinders extend their piston rods to close the clamps. Pneumatic cylinders are preferred because they can apply a constant clamping pressure on a drum. A pressure regulator on an air compressor controls the clamp pressure.
- a platform 72 at the end of the base opposite to the pivotal mounting of the cradle supports a conventional air compressor 74 that is used to supply air to the clamp operators.
- a control panel 78 is mounted on the base for user control of the various power units of the machine.
- the clamps are opened and the cradle 16 is moved to its upright position by actuator 26 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the machine is rolled over to a stack of nested tapered drums supported on a pallet P until the cradle embraces the stack, with the first clamp 38 embracing a first drum D 1 at the bottom of the stack and the second clamp 40 embracing a second drum D 2 above the first drum.
- the clamps are then closed by their pneumatic cylinders 66 to grip the respective drums.
- the clamps are free-floating and self-centering, positioning of the clamps around drums of a vertical stack is easily accomplished.
- the self-centering action of the clamps assures that a stack is in a correct position for laying the stack down and separating the drums.
- the machine can then be rolled away from the pallet, carrying the stack of drums with it.
- the actuator 26 then lowers the cradle 16 to a lay-down position.
- the motor driven machine screw 46 moves the first clamp 38 away from the second clamp 40 , thereby sliding the first drum D 1 partially out of the second drum D 2 .
- the first clamp 38 is opened to release its grip on the first drum D 1 .
- the second clamp 40 is then opened to release its grip on the second drum, and the open first clamp 38 is retracted to its home position closer to the second clamp 40 .
- the remainder of the stack can then be advanced in the direction of the clamps by hand, so that the second drum D 2 is aligned with the first clamp 38 and a third drum D 3 is aligned with the second clamp.
- the clamps open quite wide, so that they are not in the way of removing drums or advancing a stack of drums along the cradle. Movement of the stack on the cradle is not difficult due to the nylon guide strips lining the cradle.
- the clamps are closed to grip the respective drums; the first clamp 38 is moved away from the second clamp 40 ; and the first clamp is opened to permit the second drum D 2 to be slid out of the third drum D 3 .
- the entire process of drum separation and stack advancement on the cradle can be repeated until all of the drums have been separated.
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- De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (19)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/633,164 US6357599B1 (en) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-08-04 | Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15195199P | 1999-09-01 | 1999-09-01 | |
US09/633,164 US6357599B1 (en) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-08-04 | Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US6357599B1 true US6357599B1 (en) | 2002-03-19 |
Family
ID=26849118
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/633,164 Expired - Lifetime US6357599B1 (en) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-08-04 | Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US6357599B1 (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050095105A1 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2005-05-05 | William Parks | Conical warning marker placer |
US20060245889A1 (en) * | 2005-03-22 | 2006-11-02 | Ron Reichert | Device and method for manipulating rolled materials |
US20110085882A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-04-14 | Rennco Llc | Method and Apparatus for Moving and Collecting Open-Ended Containers |
CN102424148A (en) * | 2011-08-11 | 2012-04-25 | 无锡市德瑞包装设备制造有限公司 | Container separator |
ES2411963A1 (en) * | 2012-01-04 | 2013-07-09 | Eduardo-javier RUIZ RUBIO | Metal drums handling installation (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
CN108144863A (en) * | 2016-12-02 | 2018-06-12 | 朱塞佩·普里泰利G.P.咨询简易两合公司 | The optimization manufacturing method and system of lean production in the panel production line of furniture industry |
US20200140213A1 (en) * | 2013-03-29 | 2020-05-07 | David Strickland, III | Apparatus for handing and moving a stack of tires |
US20200180878A1 (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2020-06-11 | Fanuc Corporation | Hand, robot system, and workpiece extraction method |
CN112193842A (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2021-01-08 | 夏小英 | Oil drum separator |
CN113618759A (en) * | 2021-08-04 | 2021-11-09 | 广东碧品居建筑工业化有限公司 | Side die clamping device and die placing manipulator with same |
US20220002086A1 (en) * | 2018-11-19 | 2022-01-06 | Murata Machinery, Ltd. | Orientation switching apparatus |
Citations (13)
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---|---|---|---|---|
US4077540A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1978-03-07 | Butler Donald L | Receptacle carriage, dispenser and discharge device |
US4213727A (en) | 1978-12-11 | 1980-07-22 | Morse Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Drum handling apparatus |
US4809881A (en) | 1987-04-16 | 1989-03-07 | Total Tote, Inc. | Bin dispensing machine |
US4909412A (en) | 1988-09-30 | 1990-03-20 | Polycerf Inc. | Machines and methods for separating nested trays |
US4991741A (en) | 1989-04-26 | 1991-02-12 | Liberty Diversified Industries | Pail separating mechanism for an automatic filling machine |
US5067308A (en) | 1990-01-08 | 1991-11-26 | Sealright Co., Inc. | Mechanism and method for supporting and individual dispensing of nested containers |
US5490756A (en) | 1993-04-29 | 1996-02-13 | Rti Corporation | Manipulation and transport device for rolled materials |
US5496146A (en) | 1994-10-19 | 1996-03-05 | Kress Corporation | Steel slab and coil carrier |
US5547335A (en) * | 1995-08-22 | 1996-08-20 | Webber Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Handle orienter for buckets |
US5681141A (en) | 1996-04-12 | 1997-10-28 | Critel; Dexter L. | Tire stacker |
US5746570A (en) | 1996-10-15 | 1998-05-05 | Polytype America Corporation | Apparatus for positioning a handle of a pail for a printing operation on the pail |
US5791867A (en) * | 1997-01-21 | 1998-08-11 | Kuhl; Jeffrey B. | Apparatus for automatically unstacking of trays from a vertically extending interlocking stack thereof |
US5913655A (en) | 1996-01-17 | 1999-06-22 | Industrial Innovations, Inc. | Automatic depalletizing system and method |
-
2000
- 2000-08-04 US US09/633,164 patent/US6357599B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4077540A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1978-03-07 | Butler Donald L | Receptacle carriage, dispenser and discharge device |
US4213727A (en) | 1978-12-11 | 1980-07-22 | Morse Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Drum handling apparatus |
US4809881A (en) | 1987-04-16 | 1989-03-07 | Total Tote, Inc. | Bin dispensing machine |
US4909412A (en) | 1988-09-30 | 1990-03-20 | Polycerf Inc. | Machines and methods for separating nested trays |
US4991741A (en) | 1989-04-26 | 1991-02-12 | Liberty Diversified Industries | Pail separating mechanism for an automatic filling machine |
US5067308A (en) | 1990-01-08 | 1991-11-26 | Sealright Co., Inc. | Mechanism and method for supporting and individual dispensing of nested containers |
US5490756A (en) | 1993-04-29 | 1996-02-13 | Rti Corporation | Manipulation and transport device for rolled materials |
US5496146A (en) | 1994-10-19 | 1996-03-05 | Kress Corporation | Steel slab and coil carrier |
US5547335A (en) * | 1995-08-22 | 1996-08-20 | Webber Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Handle orienter for buckets |
US5913655A (en) | 1996-01-17 | 1999-06-22 | Industrial Innovations, Inc. | Automatic depalletizing system and method |
US5681141A (en) | 1996-04-12 | 1997-10-28 | Critel; Dexter L. | Tire stacker |
US5746570A (en) | 1996-10-15 | 1998-05-05 | Polytype America Corporation | Apparatus for positioning a handle of a pail for a printing operation on the pail |
US5791867A (en) * | 1997-01-21 | 1998-08-11 | Kuhl; Jeffrey B. | Apparatus for automatically unstacking of trays from a vertically extending interlocking stack thereof |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050095105A1 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2005-05-05 | William Parks | Conical warning marker placer |
US20060245889A1 (en) * | 2005-03-22 | 2006-11-02 | Ron Reichert | Device and method for manipulating rolled materials |
US20110085882A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-04-14 | Rennco Llc | Method and Apparatus for Moving and Collecting Open-Ended Containers |
CN102424148A (en) * | 2011-08-11 | 2012-04-25 | 无锡市德瑞包装设备制造有限公司 | Container separator |
CN102424148B (en) * | 2011-08-11 | 2013-06-05 | 无锡市德瑞包装设备制造有限公司 | Container separator |
ES2411963A1 (en) * | 2012-01-04 | 2013-07-09 | Eduardo-javier RUIZ RUBIO | Metal drums handling installation (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
US20200140213A1 (en) * | 2013-03-29 | 2020-05-07 | David Strickland, III | Apparatus for handing and moving a stack of tires |
CN108144863A (en) * | 2016-12-02 | 2018-06-12 | 朱塞佩·普里泰利G.P.咨询简易两合公司 | The optimization manufacturing method and system of lean production in the panel production line of furniture industry |
US20220002086A1 (en) * | 2018-11-19 | 2022-01-06 | Murata Machinery, Ltd. | Orientation switching apparatus |
US12017874B2 (en) * | 2018-11-19 | 2024-06-25 | Murata Machinery, Ltd. | Orientation switching apparatus |
US20200180878A1 (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2020-06-11 | Fanuc Corporation | Hand, robot system, and workpiece extraction method |
US11053088B2 (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2021-07-06 | Fanuc Corporation | Hand, robot system, and workpiece extraction method |
CN112193842A (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2021-01-08 | 夏小英 | Oil drum separator |
CN112193842B (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2022-07-26 | 南京涵铭置智能科技有限公司 | Oil drum separator |
CN113618759A (en) * | 2021-08-04 | 2021-11-09 | 广东碧品居建筑工业化有限公司 | Side die clamping device and die placing manipulator with same |
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Owner name: GREIF BROS. CORP. OF OHIO, INC., OHIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MORRISON, MICHAEL;REEL/FRAME:011006/0255 Effective date: 20000803 |
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Owner name: GREIF, INC., OHIO Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016004/0985 Effective date: 20050302 Owner name: GREIF, INC., OHIO Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016016/0049 Effective date: 20050302 Owner name: GREIF PAPER, PACKAGING & SERVICES LLC, A DELAWARE Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016016/0049 Effective date: 20050302 Owner name: GREIF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING & SERVICES LLC A DELAWA Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016016/0049 Effective date: 20050302 Owner name: GREIF SERVICES LLC A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY CO Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016016/0049 Effective date: 20050302 Owner name: AMERICAN FLANGE & MANUFACTURING CO, INC. A DELAWAR Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016016/0049 Effective date: 20050302 |
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Owner name: GREIF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING & SERVICES LLC, OHIO Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:GREIF SERVICES LLC;REEL/FRAME:020555/0021 Effective date: 20071231 Owner name: GREIF PACKAGING LLC, OHIO Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GREIF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING & SERVICES LLC;REEL/FRAME:020555/0038 Effective date: 20071231 |
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